Hearing aids: How to choose the right one

Perhaps you've thought about getting a hearing aid, but you're worried about how it will look and wonder whether it will really help. Knowing more about the hearing aid options available to you, what to look for when buying a hearing aid and how to break it in may help alleviate some of your concerns.

Hearing aid styles

All hearing aids contain the same parts to carry sound from the environment into your ear. However, hearing aids do come in a number of styles, which differ in size and the way they're placed in your ear. Some are small enough to fit inside your ear canal, making them almost invisible. Others fit partially in your ear canal. Generally, the smaller a hearing aid is, the less powerful it is, the shorter its battery life and the more it'll cost.

The following are common hearing aid styles.

Completely in the canalCompletely-in-the-canal hearing aids are molded to fit inside your ear canal and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.

A completely-in-the-canal hearing aid:

Is the least noticeable in the ear

Is less likely to pick up wind noise because the ear protects the instrument

Is easy to use with the telephone in most cases

Uses smaller batteries, which typically don't last as long as larger batteries

Doesn't contain extra features, such as volume control or directional microphones

In the canalAn in-the-canal hearing aid is custom molded and fits partly in the ear canal, but not as deeply as the completely-in-the-canal aid. This hearing aid can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.

An in-the-canal hearing aid:

Is less visible in the ear

Is easy to use with the telephone

Includes features that won't fit on completely-in-the-canal aids, but the small size can make the features difficult to adjust

May not fit well in smaller ears

Half-shellA smaller version of the in-the-canal hearing aid, the half-shell is custom molded and fills the lower portion of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is appropriate for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.

A half-shell hearing aid:

Is bigger than an in-the-canal hearing aid

Is a little easier to handle than are the smaller hearing aids

Includes additional features, such as directional microphones and volume control

Fits most ears

In the ear (full-shell)An in-the-ear (full-shell) hearing aid is custom made and fills most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is helpful for people with mild to severe hearing loss.

An in-the-ear (full-shell) hearing aid:

Is more visible to others

May pick up wind noise

Contains helpful features, such as volume control, that are easier to adjust

Is generally easier to insert into the ear

Uses larger batteries, which typically last longer and are easier to handle

Behind the earBehind-the-ear hearing aids hook over the top of your ear and rest behind the ear. The hearing aid picks up sound, amplifies it and carries the amplified sound to an ear mold that fits inside your ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss and for people of all ages.

A behind-the-ear hearing aid:

Is the largest, most visible type of hearing aid, though some new versions are smaller, streamlined and barely visible

Is capable of more amplification than are other hearing aid styles

Open fitThese are usually very small behind-the-ear-style devices, although larger behind-the-ear devices can be modified for a more "open" fit. Sound travels from the instrument through a small tube or wire to a tiny dome or speaker in the ear canal. These aids leave the ear canal open, so they're best for mild to moderate high-frequency losses where low-frequency hearing is still normal or near normal.

An open-fit hearing aid:

Is less visible

Doesn't plug the ear like the small in-the-canal hearing aids do

May use very small batteries

Often lacks manual adjustments due to the small size

Hearing aid electronics

Hearing aid electronics control how sound is transferred from the environment to your inner ear. All hearing aids amplify sounds, making them louder so that you can hear them better. Most hearing aid manufacturers now only produce digital hearing aids -- analog hearing aids are being phased out.

With digital technology, a computer chip converts the incoming sound into digital code, then analyzes and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs and the level of the sounds around you. The signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears. The result is sound that's more finely tuned to your hearing loss. Digital hearing aids are available in all styles and price ranges.